Legendary Former NBA Player Darryl Dawkins Dies At Age 58

Legendary NBA player Darryl Dawkins passed away suddenly at a hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Thursday night. He was 58 years old.

Dawkins’ death was confirmed by Lehigh Valley Cedar-Crest Hospital. The cause is unconfirmed by a coroner, although his family released a statement saying it was a heart attack, according to ESPN. Outside of his basketball career, Dawkins left behind a wife and four children. His family released a statement that was shared on Twitter by Sean Highkin, a Bleacher Report writer.

Dawkins was known for his massive personality and talent on the court. As a player on the Philadelphia 76ers, the outlier became known as “Chocolate Thunder” (a name given to him by Stevie Wonder) for his charisma and for shattering backboards with his powerhouse slam-dunks.